The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-08-04
CHAPTER IIL-CoNTINUED.

HCopwiqated, 1886, Ly D. Lottrop e Co., and
Published By Special arrangement
CHAPTER IH.-CoNTINUED.
"DOwn to Commercial wharf, where
orr vessel lies. was the unhesitating
answer. my father is Captain Jethro
Flagg, and I'm Polly Flagg," contin-
ned Miss Polly, vaguely conscious that
some sort of Introduction was the
proper thing, under all the circum-
stances.
"ny name is Tad-I mean Thaddeus
--Thorne, and I'm from Philadelphia, :"
said Tad, wishing that his jacket was
less threadbare and his shoes were
whole, as he glanced at the simple but
neat dress of his companion, whose
face was completely overshadowed by
a deep calico sun-bonnet shaped like
the tilt of Il market wagon.
OH returned Polly, and then, in
stead of speaking of the weather, or
asking Tad how he liked Boston, Polly
plunged headlong into personal eX-
planation: The cook wasn't well this
morning." she began, $50 l had to go
TO market, for father was uptown. And
while L was hurrying back through
Lewis Lane, because it was nearer,
those horTid boys chased the poor little
dog that had got lost, and he ran to
me so pitiful," satl Polly, bending over
the small animal in her arms until it
was completely eclipsed by the SUD
bonnet, THAT l caught him up, and
said they shouldn't have him. Then
you came along, and-Tm ever so
much obliged"
The abrupt wind-up, though Il little
incoherent, was perfectly satisfactory
to Tad.
Hell be a nice little dog after he's
washed" Tad remarked, patting the
pup TO cover his embarrassment, for
Tad wasn't used to thanks, particularly
from girls. Il guess he's Newfound-
land" he continued, with a knowing
glance at the animals ears and paws,
land they're first-class water-dogs, you
know"
Polly nodded, and, after a short
pause, looked curiously at the hand
some travelling sachel in Tad's hand
you don't belong to any of those
vessels?" she asked, inquiringly. For
they had crossed busy Commercial
street, and were walking along the
platform ola the water front, where the
pedestrian looks down upon the bewil-
-dering maze of masts, spars and cord
age belonging to the coasting and fish
ing craft huddled in the basin between
the two wharves.
No" replied Tad, in low voice.
He could not tell her that he belonged
50 nOthing-tO no one, as he mentally
expressed it. 1t would make him seem
like sort of vagrant, youthful tramp.
Nor did he-tO Polly's secret disap-
pointment-account for his possession
of the handsome little travelling sachel,
with its silver mountings, at which
Polly had east admiring chances.
Il hope he came by it honestly"
thought Polly, and then was ashamed
of the ungenerouS self-su@gestion.
Yet, | am afraid it fingered uncOn-
sciously in her mind, for she had in the
flush of her gratitude decided she would
ask Tad to take dinner with herself and
Captain Flagg. on board the Mary j."
But as they reached the end of Com
mercial wharf, where the MARY j."
was moOred, Polly hesitated a little.
You can come aboard, if you like"
she said; but Tad, who noticed her al
most imperceptible change of manner
without being able to account for it,
shook his head.
''Oh, no, miss; I don't look fit" he
replied, with a glance at his shabby
clothes and patched shoes, that was pa
thetic. Il come down here" he con-
tinued, simply, ''because there wasn't
any other place where l could set down
and look over the papers-good-morn-
ing, miss" and before Polly could re-
ply Tad was gone.